Kissing Babies ...

The last time Canada had a Federal election, Chris and I both voted. Madeline was there, too - I was in early labour on June 28, 2004. We're heading back to the polls on January 23, 2005. Way too soon - our current government is only one day older than Madeline, and she's just eighteen months old!  She'll be in my thoughts for this upcoming election, too. One of the big issues is childcare.

There is a shortage of daycare spaces in most parts of Canada, and for certain in Calgary. The current government has taken some big steps in the short amount of time they've been in power to increase funding for more daycare spaces, and they're pledging to continue to do so if they're re-elected. The party that's (unfortunately) popular in my part of the country has taken another approach. They figure that only spending money on daycare spots is penalizing families who do not seek outside care for their children - families like ours. They're proposing to give each family in Canada $100 every month for each child in their household, whether the children are cared for at home or in a daycare setting. You'd think that I'd be swayed by this, being a stay-at-home mom at the present time.

But I'm not. How is $100/month supposed to help me when I resume working and need to send Madeline to daycare? Am I supposed to use my $1200/year to bribe the daycare centre to move her to the front of the waiting list?  Bah!

Comments

[Stay-at-home-mom-to-be]

You do have some valid points regarding the upcoming election and the issue regarding child care, but I have a slightly different take on the situation. Although our current government is helping with the daycare situation, this does not help me at all. I am due to have my first child in June and my plan is to stay home with him/her and any future brothers/sisters until they start school. It is a personal choice that I have always felt strongly about. I would rather sacrifice the extra income to be able to raise my children myself, rather than them being raised by strangers. I know that it will not always be easy to live in a single-income household, and any help we can get financially to be able to do this is welcomed with open arms. Finally, here is a government who is rewarding me for making what I think is the right choice for the well-being of my child. I understand that not all families have a choice about staying home (e.g. single mothers) and for these people, daycare funding is important. But it is very refreshing to finally see a government that recognizes the value of stay-at-home moms.

[laura]

Your points are good, though I doubt that other parties don't recognize the value of staying home with one's own kids - they're just trying to tackle a particular problem, akin to waiting times in the medical system. As long as I continue to stay home, the issue of childcare spots doesn't affect me either.

What bugs me is that the Conservative's plan is really so little in the big picture. They haven't said that they're going to eliminate the tax deduction for out-of-family childcare expenses, so it's still not equal footing for Canadian families, anyway. They just like to speak as if it is. Honestly, I just wish that some party would suggest giving all families an equal tax deduction for their under-18 dependants, and eliminate the other stuff. I can't think of anything fairer *sigh*